David M. Gustafson

Chair of Evangelism and Missional Ministry & Professor of Evangelism and Missional Ministry

Dr. Gustafson served twenty-five years in ministry, first as campus director with Cru at Fresno State University in California, and then as pastor in two Evangelical Free churches in the Great Lakes District. Prior to Trinity, he taught courses in Christianity at the University of Houston and courses in practical ministries at Houston Graduate School of Theology.

Dr. Gustafson’s areas of expertise include evangelism, Evangelical Free Church history, and missional praxis. He is book review editor of Witness: Journal of the Academy for Evangelism in Theological Education. He is an ordained minister of the Evangelical Free Church of America and serves on its Board of Ministerial Standing. He is an affiliate docent at Johannelund School of Theology in Uppsala, Sweden, and a contributing author in evangelism to the International Alliance for Christian Education.

He and his wife, Sharon, have four children, and he enjoys bicycling, backpacking, and cooking stir-fry.

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Education

Publications

Gospel Witness: Evangelism in Word and Deed (Eerdmans, 2019)

Gospel Witness through the Ages: A History of Evangelism (Eerdmans, 2022)

Revising Pentecostal History: Scandinavian-American Contributions to the Development of Pentecostalism, edited with Rakel Ystebø Alegre and Torbjörn Aronson (Wipf & Stock, 2025)

Evangelical Heritage: From Immigrants to a Church of All People—The Story of the Evangelical Free Church of America (Free Church Publications, 2025)

Books by Dr. Gustafson

Study with Dr. Gustafson

Advanced Placement

AP:Master of Divinity

76 CREDITS | 2.5 YEARS

ABOUT

If you’re graduating with a ministry degree from an accredited Bible college or Christian liberal arts school, you may qualify for our Advanced Placement MDiv (AP MDiv). This program reduces the overall number of hours you’ll need to graduate with an MDiv while also allowing you to take additional advanced electives in areas that you’re passionate about.

COURSEWORK

MDiv

Master of Divinity

90 CREDITS | 3 YEARS

ABOUT

Gain pastoral leadership skills through the Master of Divinity (MDiv) program at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (TEDS). Our MDiv degree program has the rigorous academic courses and spiritual support you need for your calling in Christian ministry or academia. Join a diverse student body and learn within the context of a broadly evangelical ethos.

COURSEWORK

Curriculum Breakdown:

  • Introduction to Theological Education: 2 hours
  • God’s Word: 36 hours
  • God’s People: 22 hours
  • God’s World: 12 hours
  • Electives: 4 hours

Track Options (Chose one)

  • Church & Parachurch Ministry: 14 hours
  • Academic Ministry: 14 hours
  • Mission and Cultural Engagement: 14 hours
Master's

Intercultural Studies

36 CREDITS | 2 YEARS

ABOUT

The complexity of ministry in a world of globalization, resurgent traditional religions, growth of the non-Western church, migration, urbanization, and rapid change demands the highest quality of academic, spiritual, and practical preparation.

COURSEWORK

Master's

Theological Studies

42 CREDITS | 1.5 YEARS

ABOUT

Pursue an in-depth understanding of theology and its relevance to today’s world with a master’s degree in Theological Studies from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (TEDS). Apply your knowledge to your vocation, ministry, volunteer work, family life, and more through our distinguished and flexible program. The Master of Arts (MA) in Theological Studies degree is TEDS’ most flexible program both in focus and delivery method. Choose your area of study based on your interests and experience. In addition, you can earn your degree through multiple delivery modalities, including completely online. See how a theology degree can transform your life by enrolling at TEDS.

COURSEWORK

FEATURED COURSES

  • Introduction to the New Testament 1
  • Introduction to the Old Testament 1
  • Introduction to Biblical Theology
  • Theology 1: The God of the Gospel: From the Father
  • Church History 1: The Patristic and Middle Ages
  • Theology of Mission & Evangelism

TRACKS

  • Cross-Cultural Ministry Track
  • Executive Leadership Track
  • Preaching Ministry Track
  • Ministry Care Track
Doctor of Philosophy

Intercultural Studies

60 CREDITS | 4 YEARS

ABOUT

Develop the ministry and research skills of leaders involved in a wide variety of missional, cross-cultural, and educational ministries. Focus is upon deepening our understanding of human diversity, contextual realities, and cultural change in ways that inform redemptive, gospel-centered ministry in the contemporary world.

COURSEWORK

ThM

Master of Theology

22 CREDITS | 1 YEAR

ABOUT

TEDS’ ThM offers discipline concentrations in each of our eight departments: Church History, Counseling, Educational Studies, Mission and Evangelism, New Testament, Old Testament, Pastoral Theology, and Systematic Theology, or specialized inter-departmental concentrations developed in consultation with the departmental faculty. The program can be completed in one year of study.

COURSEWORK

  • Concentration Core: 19 -20 hours
  • Capstone: 2-3 hours
Certificate

Leadership in Missions

12 CREDITS | 1 YEAR

ABOUT

By studying the theology and history of evangelism and missions around the world you will gain a strong foundation of anthropology, discipleship practices and practical evangelism methods which will enrich your ministry abilities both in the United States and around the world.

COURSEWORK

Featured Courses

  • Theology of Mission & Evangelism
  • Global Mission and the Local Church
  • Evangelism and the Local Church
  • History of the Expansion of Christianity
  • Anthropology for Ministry
  • World Religions
  • Missional Church